King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon captures Jerusalem and exiles its wealthy citizens. King Zedekiah’s children and officers are killed before his own eyes, which are then gouged out. Jeremiah is spared by Nebuchadnezzar.

II. Photo

Jeremiah’s eyes are gouged out: “Then the eyes of Zedekiah were put out and he was chained in bronze fetters, that he might be brought to Babylon.” (v. 7)

III. Select Verses

1-2: In the ninth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the tenth month, King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon moved against Jerusalem with his whole army, and they laid siege to it. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the [walls of] the city were breached.

4-7: When King Zedekiah of Judah saw them, he and all the soldiers fled. They left the city at night, by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the double walls; and he set out toward the Arabah. But the Chaldean troops pursued them, and they overtook Zedekiah in the steppes of Jericho. They captured him and brought him before King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon at Riblah in the region of Hamath; and he put him on trial. The king of Babylon had Zedekiah’s children slaughtered at Riblah before his eyes; the king of Babylon had all the nobles of Judah slaughtered. Then the eyes of Zedekiah were put out and he was chained in bronze fetters, that he might be brought to Babylon.

8-10: The Chaldeans burned down the king’s palace and the houses of the people by fire, and they tore down the walls of Jerusalem. The remnant of the people that was left in the city, and the defectors who had gone over to him — the remnant of the people that was left — were exiled by Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, to Babylon. But some of the poorest people who owned nothing were left in the land of Judah by Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, and he gave them vineyards and fields at that time.

11-12: King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon had given orders to Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, concerning Jeremiah: “Take him and look after him; do him no harm, but grant whatever he asks of you.”

IV. Outline

1. Babylon laid siege to Jerusalem in Zedekiah’s 9th year

2-3. The walls were breached in Zedekiah’s 11th year

4-5. Zedekiah and his officers were caught fleeing the city

6-7. Zedekiah’s children and officers are killed before his own eyes, which are then gouged out

8. Jerusalem’s walls, palace, and houses are destroyed

9-10. The wealthy were exiled, the poor remained

11-14. Jeremiah is treated well by order of Nebuchadnezzar

15-18. A prophecy while Jeremiah was still in prison: Ebed-melech will be spared death because he trusted in Yahweh